A crash rating is only as broad as the test behind it, and insurance-industry researchers have tightened several of those tests in recent years. Some SUVs that sailed through the older version then stumbled when the bar went up. Here are twelve used-SUV cohorts that show how different crash configurations can expose weaknesses a single good score hid.
1. 2021–22 Chevrolet Equinox: A Good Score, Then Marginal
The Equinox earned Good in the original side test but Marginal in the tougher 2021 evaluation, with rear head protection and driver chest concerns. The IIHS write-up on tougher small SUV side tests is where the contrast appears.
This applies to the 2021–22 cohort and to that one test, so it is not a verdict that the compact SUV is unsafe overall. Shoppers comparing used examples can treat it as a prompt to ask about side-impact performance specifically.
2. 2021–22 GMC Terrain: Same Test, Same Stumble
Its Good original side rating became Marginal under the tougher side test, with rear head protection and driver chest measures exposing the weaknesses. The finding comes from the same IIHS small SUV results that caught its Chevrolet cousin.
The scope is narrow: the 2021–22 model years and a single named evaluation. A buyer weighing a used Terrain can still value its other results, but this one component deserves a look before purchase.
3. 2021–22 Kia Sportage: Cohort Result Worth Noting
The tested Sportage cohort rated Good in the original side test and Marginal in the updated one. That drop is documented in IIHS coverage of a tougher side evaluation aimed at small SUVs.
Fewer component details are given here than for its peers, so the takeaway stays general. As with the rest of the group, it describes the 2021–22 cohort in one test and is not a blanket judgment of the model.
4. 2021–22 Lincoln Corsair: Luxury Badge, Marginal Result
A Good original side rating did not carry over for the Corsair, because the tougher evaluation rated it Marginal. The comparison rests on the IIHS side-test update covering small SUVs.
A premium nameplate gave no exemption from the harder standard, which is a useful reminder when shopping used. The caveat holds: this reflects the 2021–22 cohort and one test, not the whole vehicle. Shoppers can still weigh it against other crash results before deciding.
5. 2022 Honda Passport: Midsize Contrast
The 2022 Passport’s Good original side rating contrasted with Marginal in the updated test, including structure, driver pelvis and rear torso concerns. IIHS reported it in its midsize SUV side-test roundup, where most rivals fared better.
That context matters, since the headline of the report was largely positive for the class. Used-car shoppers should read this as a single-test, single-year finding rather than a general warning about the Honda. Checking the specific model year before buying remains the sensible step.
6. 2021–22 Jeep Wrangler four-door: Rear Heads Held It Back
The four-door Wrangler rated Good in the original side test, yet poor rear head protection held the tougher-test overall rating to Marginal. The detail appears in the IIHS midsize side results.
Anyone planning to carry rear passengers has the most reason to pay attention. The result is limited to the 2021–22 four-door and the updated test, so other configurations should not be assumed to match. Seating position and passenger habits will decide how much that finding matters.
7. 2022 Kia Telluride: Pelvis Problem in the New Test
A Good original side score contrasted with a Marginal updated score for the Telluride, including a poor driver pelvis result. The numbers come from IIHS reporting on the updated midsize side test.
The finding concerns the 2022 model and one named measure, so it is not a verdict on the three-row SUV as a whole. Buyers can use it to ask what the specific injury measures looked like. Ask for the full test breakdown rather than relying on a single headline rating.
8. 2022 Buick Enclave: Acceptable, But Not Quite Good
The Enclave did not fall as far as some peers: its updated side rating was Acceptable after a Good original rating, though occupant-compartment structure was Marginal. That nuance sits in the IIHS midsize SUV findings.
It shows how a drop of one level can still hide a weak component underneath. As always, the result belongs to the 2022 model and the tougher test only. Comparing the individual component grades gives a clearer picture than the overall label alone.
9. 2023–24 Chevrolet Tahoe: Big SUV, Small-Overlap Slip
The Tahoe earned Good in the original moderate-overlap test but only Acceptable in small overlap, where passenger footwell intrusion raised right-foot injury risk. IIHS laid this out in its large SUV test results.
The cohort covers the 2023–24 model years and one configuration. A family weighing a large SUV can weigh the footwell finding against the other results rather than treat it as disqualifying. It is one data point among several, and the other tests deserve equal attention.
10. 2023–24 Ford Expedition: When the A-Pillar Separated
The Expedition earned Good in the original moderate-overlap test but Marginal in small overlap, where its A-pillar separated. That outcome is in the same IIHS large SUV report as the Tahoe.
Structural separation is a notable detail for a body-on-frame family hauler. The finding is limited to the 2023–24 cohort and the named test, so it is not a general safety verdict. Reading the individual test results alongside it will give a fuller picture of the vehicle.
11. 2022–23 Volkswagen Atlas: Strong Driver, Weaker Rear
The Atlas showed strong driver protection, yet it received a Marginal updated moderate-overlap grade because rear belt tension and head proximity to the seatback were concerns. IIHS discussed this in its rear passenger protection findings.
Families who regularly seat children or adults in back have the most to consider. The result covers the 2022–23 cohort and one updated evaluation, not the vehicle’s overall crash record. Checking how a specific used example is equipped and restrained is still worthwhile.
12. 2022–23 Toyota Highlander: Lap Belt Over the Abdomen
The Highlander also paired strong driver protection with a Marginal updated moderate-overlap grade, after the rear lap belt moved onto the abdomen. The cause is described in the IIHS piece on rear seat protection shortfalls.
The detail is about restraint geometry in the back seat, which an owner might ask a dealer or inspector about. It applies to the 2022–23 cohort and the named test, not to the model’s every strength.
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